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THE GKAY DAY IX FLORIDA, 
A DAY NOT SOOX FORGOT. 



SONGS 
OF THE SOUTHLAND 

IDA LOIS EASTON 
Illustrated from photographs by E, 0, Gross 




RICHARD G. BADGER 

The Gorham Press 
Boston 



Copyright 1912 by Ida L, Boston 
All rights reserved 



* * 



The Oorham Press, Boston, U, S. A. 






CONTENTS 

A Gray Day in Florida 9 

Sunset on the River 10 

Clover 11 

Growing Old 12 

Florida in Winter 14 

To the Housekeeper's Club of Cocoanut 

Grove, Florida 15 

To Ruskin 17 

Miami 18 

. Ship-Mates 19 

Autumn 20 

The Silver Lining 21 

Southern Skies 22 

Sailing On 23 

The Jaunting Car 24 

Killarney 25 

Biscayne Bay 26 

A Song of the Deep 27 

Alone 28 

To the Dog Star 29 

Soldier Key 30 

To Friendships ' 31 

Under the Shadow T. 32 

Divine Appreciation 33 

The Voice in Nature 34 

The Queen of the Southland 35 

Life's Day 36 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

A gray day in Florida Frontis 

Facing Page 

The sunset on the river 10 

While the live oaks spread wide arms o'er 

head 14 

The Royal palm that in stately calm 18 

We find the heaven of our rest 22 

The paddles gleam 26 

O, Soldier Key, thou jewel'd isle ! 30 

There is melody and gladness 34 



/ 



/ 



/ 



SONGS OF THE SOUTHLAND 



A GRAY DAY IN FLORIDA 

The gray day in Florida, 

A day not soon forgot, 

Where pine trees rise, to greet the skies 

In graceful beauty wrought. 

The sweeping moss, gray colored toss 
Its streamers to the breeze. 
The holly red, its color shed, 
0*er shining bright green leaves. 

The gray day in Florida 

Is made for revery; 

Not gloom thy mood in piney wood. 

But silent sympathy. 

The color tone, the gentle moan 
Of wind, from gulf or sea. 
A picture rare, in clean pure air, 
A memory for me. 



9 



SUNSET ON THE RIVER 

The sunset on the river, 
Can*st thou forget it, ever? 
Those gorgeous dyes 
That streamed the skies! 
And seemed to burn forever. 

The waters glance and quiver. 
As rain-bow hued 
They seem imbued, 
With color blending ever. 



10 




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CLOVER 



I search the far fields over 
To find a four leaf clover; 

I find the three leaf, never four — 
Although I seek as never before 

And o*er each tuft I hover. 

My love must be a rover ! 

Else I had luck in clover. 
Faith, Hope, and Love, 

I read above, 
Each plot of three leaf clover. 



11 



GROWING OLD 

Life's not so bad, 

Nor yet so sad 

When we are growing old; 

We meditate 

In quiet state 

And wondrous tales unfold. 

Of all the noise 

We made when boys, 

Then we were young and gay ; 

Ah ! girls were shy 

As we went by — 

And danced in bright array. 

The world was ours. 

So full of flowers — 

We did not look for thorns; 

Nor would we dare 

To cry, beware ! 

"In life, there must be storms.** 

We hesitate 

Thus to relate, 

Our aims, and standards high; 

Of course, you know we fell below 

Our castles in the sky. 

But life was free 

And rampant we, 

Up hill and down the dale; 

Nor meditate 

Upon our fate. 

As we good fellows hale. 

12 



In bright review 

The pictures true — 

In memory pass before us, 

A faithful mate — 

Thy hand — my Fate — 

As twilight gathers o'er us. 

The vivid past 

We see at last. 

As life's long day is closing. 

The shades of night. 

They do not blight, 

But new life seem unfolding. 



18 



FLORIDA IN WINTER 

In this land you know, the wild flowers grow, 

And birds in chorus sing. 
The whole earth glows, as it seems to know 

'Tis far from the old frost king. 

The beauty bright, of the morning light ! 

The sun comes up from the sea 
And kisses the day, flowering so gay, 

That you smile in sympathy. 

The orange grove, with its fruit of gold. 

The lemon and grapefruit bloom. 
And pineapples rare fill the pure air 

With the fragrance of their perfume. 

The palmettoes bring to this tropic scene 

A charm that is never lost. 
While the live oaks spread wide arms o'er head, 

Draped with the sweeping moss. 

The days go by, 'neath this clear blue sky. 

In beauty and love and song. 
So swiftly time flies, that we stop to sigh. 

That life's not twice as long. 



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TO THE HOUSE-KEEPER'S CLUB OF COCO- 
ANUT GROVE, FLORIDA 

To-day we meet, 

And warmly greet, 

The one who did conceive 

The thought, that wrought, 

This work, and brought. 

This power we perceive. 

As then her grace 
And influence place 
Her at the legal head; 
Her heart, and hand. 
Has formed this band. 
And helped to win the race. 

All honor due, 

The valiant few; 

Those women stanch and true, 

Who organized 

And realized. 

The work that they could do. 

Full twenty years 

Their history bears. 

Of trials not a few, 

And deeds accrue 

That bring their due 

Of smiles, and happy tears. 

The times they strived 
And side by side, 
O'ercame their labor dire. 
But upward grew 
This Club-house you 
And I, so much admire. 

15 



The science of good living, 

Domestic love, and being, 

They first did study well; 

Until the art 

Became a part 

In every home to dwell. 

These homes were blest. 

The Town attest, 

And all who sojourn here. 

Have been inspired ! 

And so acquired — 

A larger field and sphere. 

This "Annual Tea," 

It seems to me. 

In years, so strongly mark, 

The future fair, 

With prospects rare. 

On which you may embark. 

May twenty years 

Of heart-felt cheers 

Ring down the coming time 

And fill your hearts 

With love, and arts. 

And — other things — that rhyme. 

April £7, 1911, Twentieth Anniversary. Dedi- 
cated to Miss Flora McFarlane, organizer — first 
President, also President of the Club at this time* 



16 



TO RUSKIN 

Great hearts must lead a solitary way, 

*Tis reaching far above the marts of men 

That separates, and makes for them 

An atmosphere, the loneliness of which they pay. 

So Ruskin, in thine hours of loneliness, 

Thy followers are bound to pay 

In like, their coin, or suffer solitude, 

To reach that realm of blessedness — 

That filled thine heart with gratitude. 



17 



MIAMI 

We have found here a land 
Where a faithful band, 
Of people, brave and free, 
Have built them a town 
That doth compass around 
The beauty of land and sea. 

There are flowers that bloom, 
And rare birds that plume. 
In this south-land by the sea, 
There are trees that rise 
'Neath these sunny skies, 
In towering majesty. 

'Tis the royal palm, that in stately calm, 
Seems viewing the soft scene o'er; 
While the boats on the bay 
Pass the live long day 
Sailing away from the shore. 

No colds winds blow. 
On this land, I trow, — 
This south-land by the sea. 
No frost, nor snow, 
Come here I know 
To mar or blight that tree. 



18 




THE ROYAL PALM, THAT IN STATELY CALM, 
SEEMS VIEWING THE SOFT SCENE o'eR. 



SHIP-MATES 

Two weeks at sea, ah! that to me 
Means peace and rest. 
From ship to shore, to meet no more- 
New friendship's test. 



19 



AUTUMN 

Red and yellow, green and gray, 
Nature's rampant colours gay, 
Deck the hill-side and the vale, 
'Tis the Autumn's bright array. 

Autumn leaves of russet hue, 
Sparkling with the morning's dew, 
Nature's dicing garb, the best 
Clothing for the winter's rest. 



90 



THE SILVER LINING 

There are no clouds reflected. 
That are not silver-lined; 
God's beauty laws deflected 
Upon our hearts and mind. 

So, sadness has its mission. 
Look, for its lesson true; 
Dark are its cloud monition. 
But silver-lined its hue. 

God's plans are interwoven 
With sunshine and with shade. 
His creatures should betoken 
The glory He has made. 



21 



SOUTHERN SKIES 

The splendor of a starry night 

In southern skies 
Is full of wonder and delight 

To northern eyes. 

From winter's cold and bitter blast 

To summer air; 
We find the haven of our rest 

In scenes so fair. 

The balmy air and silent flight 

Of quiet hours; 
The changing shadows of the night 

This solace ours. 

This jewel'd crown, so passing fair 

The Holy One 
Hath set above in beauteous air 

When day is done. 



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WE FIND THE HAVEN OF OUR REST 
IN SCENES SO FAIR. 



SAILING ON 

Out on the sea, with the billows blue. 

Our good ship is sailing on, 
Far and away, you have left me, dear, 

To meet with a brighter dawn. 

Memories dear, of the days gone by. 
As our good ship is sailing on. 

Of you and I, that looked up at the sky 
As we sailed on, and on. 

"One of us dear, will be left to grieve," 
As our good ship is sailing on; 

"The other will live, as we believe 
Up there with the heavenly throng. " 

Ah ! me, it is I, that looks up at the sky. 
As our good ship is sailing on. 

My eyes are dim, as I weep for him — 
Alone, I am sailing home. 



23 



THE JAUNTING CAR 

This jolting rig is not too big 

For two on either side, 
But look for war, there'll be a jar, 

Before you learn to ride. 

Up hill you go, then down, O woe, 
You bounce from side to side; 

A sudden shock ! you* ve struck a rock, 
And there and then capsized. 



24 



KILLARNEY 

O ! ye lakes of Killarney, I wean — 
More lovely than aught I have seen, 

With blue sky above you, 

The mountains about you. 
Reflections upon you, a dream! 

There's a moss covered bridge, 
On a wonderful ridge, 

With a view of the waters both ways, 
And a very old Abbey, that does not look 
shabby — 

That tells us of "ye ancient days." 



25 



BISCAYNE BAY 

Oh, Biscayne Bay, 

Thy bright array 

Of boats, that come and go, 

By night and day. 

They seem to say — 

We our allegiance show. 

The paddles gleam, 

On silent stream 

Or drift, on moon-kissed wave; 

While songs float o*er, 

And reach the shore 

In strains both gay and grave. 



26 




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A SONG OF THE SEA 

Roll on ! thou deep blue sea ! 

Thou dearer art to me 

Than rippling brook. 

In shady nook, 

Or water-fall may be. 

Roll on! thou restless sea! 
More dear art thou to me 
Than lakes that lie 
Reflecting sky. 
Though peerless they may be. 

Toss on ! thou storm-swept sea ! 
Thy wrath is dear to me 
As lightning's flash 
And thunder's crash, 
In forest land may be. 

Roll on ! thou silent sea ! 
Thou art most dear to me. 
Though thou be calm 
Thou art a balm. 
In all thy moods to me. 



27 



ALOXE 

I am lonely tonight, O! so lonely, 
No voice that I love greets my ears; 
My pathway is loveless and dreary, 
And hopeless, my future appears. 

Alone, in the clouds of my sorrow, 
This world, when with you, seemed so fair; 
How sweet was the perfume of flowers, 
And birds sang in pure sparkling air. 

\Mien I laid you to rest in the evening, 
The night of my darkness had come; 
I vainly prayed sunlight would enter, 
And bless, with its joy, my dark home. 

But the shadows are ever about me, 
That seem to obscure every scene 
Where once only glorious beauty. 
And joy, with you, deary, had been. 

\Miere art thou! my love, 0, my deary! 
The days since you left me are long; 
The clouds are all hea\y with weeping. 
My heart has no joy, and no song. 

\Miere art thou, as ever about me. 
Strange faces, and voices, and forms. 
Make earth seem a wilderness to me. 
As I long for your true lo^'ing arms. 

Will the sun ever shine on my pathway? 
Will my soul hear the music that blest ! 
Will my shadows disperse on that bright way 
That leads to the haven of rest? 

28 



TO THE DOG STAR 

O ! Sirius ! mysterious I 
Thy brilliance from afar. 
Adown the age 
Adorn the page, 
In history of the stars? 

In ancient time, a red hue thine, 
"WTien shining o'er the while, 
The Arabs see. 
Their hopes in thee. 
To overflow the Nile. 

Thou brightest one! A mighty sun! 
Controling worlds afar. 
Art thou the home! 
Of souk that roam? 
Away among the stars? 



29 



SOLDIER KEY 

O, Soldier Key, thou jewel'd Isle! 
Girt round about with emerald sea; 
With turquoise sky, thou doth beguile: 
With pearl of peace, our spirits free. 

The gilding of thy morning light ! 
The brilliant sunlight of thy noon; 
The opal tints at night-fall bright — 
The charm and witchery of thy moon. 

When night o'ertakes thee, little Isle — 
And starry skies look kindly down, 
Me-thinks the angels sweetly smile 
And claim thee, for their very own. 

Away with every sordid care; 
Away! from grief and sorrow flee. 
Breathe here, God's crystal atmosphere, 
And fill thy soul with ecstasy. 



30 



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TO FRIENDSHIPS 

There are friendships of old. 
That are better than gold — 
Yet ! the friends that are new 
Are as precious and true, 
As of old ! I am told. 



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UNDER THE SHADOW 

Ye who suffer through bereavement, 
Ye who mourn, and sob, and cry 
In the darkness, no abatement, 
Hear the message from the sky. 

"All that weary, heavy laden. 
Sad and lonely — sore distressed; 
Come to me ! my yoke is easy. 
Come to me! I'll give thee rest." 

Thou art not alone in sorrow. 
Though the clouds are dense and grim, 
Christ is there, sent down from heaven, 
Christ! the bearer of our sin. 

Hear him call thee, sad and lone one. 
Call thee through the dark long night; 
He is mighty, and there is none 
Other that can bring thee light. 



32 



DIVINE APPRECIATION 

To see His power, in every flower. 
To hear His voice, in every song — 
This is the soul's most sacred hour 
That holds it high amidst the throng. 



33 



THE VOICE IN NATURE 

Have you heard the voice in Nature, 
Have you caught the strains d.i\4ne? 

Calling you from pain, and torture, 
Is this heavenly blessing thine? 

There is melody and gladness 

To be found in solitude. 
There is balm for all thy sadness 

In a flood of gratitude. 

Waken to a sense of beauty 
In the earth, the sky, and sea. 

Live again, it is thy duty; 
Fill thy heart, and joyful be. 

Breathe the air just fresh from heaven, 
Sunshine from the bluest skies; 

Perfumed air, "vs-ith flowers laden, 
Here, where summer never dies. 

Let the song birds fill thy being 

With a thrill of joy di\^ne! 
God, hath given these strains for healing 

Sick and weary souls like mine. 



34 




THERE IS MELODY AND GLADNESS 
TO BE FOUND IN SOLITUDE. 



THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH-LAND 



The stars by night, look kindly down 
Upon Miami — Snow white town; 
The waters lap, upon her shore 
In soft and soothing song — while o*er 
Her silent beauty steals the breeze 
Of tropic isles, amidst the sea. 



35 



LIFE'S DAY 

Morning! and the heart is gay. 
Filled with light and love, 

Speeding the hours away; 
Care free as a dove. 

Noonday! and anxiety, 
Cloud the brow with care. 

Just a bit satiety, 

Marks a face once fair. 

Evening! and the restful chair. 

Toil and strife are done; 
Calmly waiting, free from care. 
The setting of the sun. 

Midnight! and life's day is done; 

Cold, and calm, and dumb. 
Lies the form once radiant. 

As the noonday sun. 



6 1912 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



015 906 781 6 



